The Likud party's Elections Committee, led by retired judge Menachem Ne'eman, on Tuesday decided that since only former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had submitted candidacy for Likud leadership, primaries for the party's top spot will not be held.
The deadline for submitting candidacy for Likud leadership was July 18.
"The Central Elections Committee and the Supervision Committee hereby declare that Mr. Benjamin Netanyahu has been chosen for a term as Likud chairman and the Likud party's candidate for Prime Minister of Israel in the elections for the 25th Knesset," a statement said.
A similar situation occurred in 2016, when only Netanyahu submitted candidacy for Likud leadership. However, that year primaries were held regardless, with voters choosing between Netanyahu and a blank ballot.
At the time, it was reported that the primaries, which cost the Likud four million NIS, were held due to Netanyahu's concerns that he would be attacked later on if primaries were not held.